Development Assistance

Promoting aquaculture for fish and profit

The Aquaculture for Local Community Development Programme (ALCOM) helps rural populations in nine Southern African countries to improve their living standards and nutrition by fish farming. Activities are broad-based and involve studies, investigations and pilot projects in the integration of aquaculture with farming systems and promotion of a wider role for women and youth in fish farming.

Special emphasis is being placed on bringing small water bodies, such as dam reservoirs, into production. Small farmers see aquaculture as a way of making their food supply more secure by spreading their risks: if pests or disease decimate the maize or rice, they will still have fish to eat or trade for other foods. Aquaculture also has the advantage of being sustainable, since fishing doesn't diminish the water resource or conflict with most other uses.

For more information on ALCOM, try the ALCOM Home Page: http://www.zamnet.zm/zamnet/alcom/alcom.htm.

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